Chapter 476: Chapter 261: The Secret Treasure_2
Prince Dai was pleased that Li Chuan had a change of heart and once again became his confidant. However, he did not know that Li Chuan had long revealed the situation in Jizhou, including the defense map of Jizhou, to the Eighth Prince.
His fief of Jizhou had long been under the control of the Eighth Prince.
"Your Highness, forgive me for speaking frankly, but Prince Dai and Marquis Xuanping are no match for the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen," said Kong Yuan.
"Duke Zhen is cunning and crafty, and there are few who can match him," the Eighth Prince sneered. "Even ten Marquis Xuanping would be no match for him."
"Your Highness, did the Emperor appoint the Fourth Prince because he sees that Marquis Xuanping and Prince Dai are not capable of dealing with Duke Zhen?"
"Precisely." The Eighth Prince furrowed his brows slightly, his face cold. "Duke Zhen is not easy to deal with."
"Your Highness, could the Fourth Prince and the Li Family possibly be a match for Duke Zhen?"
"Minister Li is not a match for Duke Zhen," the Eighth Prince said with a meaningful look. "As for Zhao Yun, it’s hard to say."
"I see the Emperor is not yet planning to take action against the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, but instead has begun to deal with the Wang Family."
"The Duke Mansion cannot be dealt with lightly. Father will likely leave it for last," the Eighth Prince said, squinting at the chessboard before him, a smile playing on his lips. "Father has started to deal with the Wang Family, but it’s just minor skirmishing."
Kong Yuan appeared astonished: "Why not a full-scale attack?"
He asked further: "Why not handle it like dealing with those noble families in Yangzhou?"
"Because he fears alerting the enemy," the Eighth Prince said deeply. "The noble families in Yangzhou cannot compare to the noble families in the capital. Although the Xie family, Wang family, Xun family, and Yuan family have discord due to their own interests, once something happens to the Wang family, the Xun and Yuan families will unite."
He continued, "The combined forces of these noble families are not to be underestimated, so they must be eliminated one by one so that they cannot unite."
"I see," said Kong Yuan. "Thank you, Your Highness, for the lesson. I have learned much."
"Father seems to have other plans."
"What is the Emperor planning?"
"Father knows well that the noble families in the capital cannot be dealt with like those in Yangzhou. Moreover, the fate of the noble families in Yangzhou has also made the noble families in the capital vigilant," the Eighth Prince said as his fingers tapped lightly on the chessboard. "What do you think Father is plotting?"
Kong Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I cannot think of anything."
"I always feel that Father is holding back a major move," said the Eighth Prince, using a phrase he had learned from Zhao Yao. "Moreover, I feel that Father is about to make a move."
"Your Highness, whatever the Emperor does, it has nothing to do with us," Kong Yuan remarked, having little regard for those noble families.
"We can stir these waters even murkier," the Eighth Prince said, sounding as if he were gleefully anticipating chaos. "But for now, we can only watch and wait."
"Your Highness, when will you report the Crown Prince’s people’s acceptance of bribes, their occupation of lands, and the abduction of women?"
The Eighth Prince pondered for a moment and said, "Reveal it to Prince Dai’s people tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"These matters are inconsequential to the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen," the Eighth Prince continued. "In a few days, reveal the corruption and criminal activities of Prince Dai’s people to the Crown Prince’s people and let them fight amongst themselves."
"Your Highness is wise." Kong Yuan thought of the Fourth Prince and hesitated before speaking, "Your Highness, what about the Fourth Prince?"
"Don’t worry about the Fourth Prince for now," the Eighth Prince said, then suddenly chuckled. "I actually hope the Fourth Prince quickly develops his influence, but knowing his nature, he won’t be in a hurry to expand his influence."
"Your Highness, forgive my frankness, but in the future, the Fourth Prince will become your greatest enemy," Kong Yuan advised. "If you do not remove him before he is fully grown, it will not be easy to do so later."
"I know, but the Fourth Prince cannot be dealt with now," the Eighth Prince said, a deep shadow passing through his eyes. "Until I come of age and receive my title and fief, I cannot reveal myself."
"Your Highness has thought this through."
"However, with the Fourth Prince as a formidable opponent, the future won’t be so boring," the Eighth Prince smiled enigmatically. "If in the end, only I am left, it would be too dull."
"With Your Highness’s wisdom, the Fourth Prince will not be a match for you."
The Eighth Prince smiled meaningfully but then ceased discussing the Fourth Prince and instead brought up the matter of Annan Country.
Because Yan Huarong was stationed at the Southern Border, their actions in Annan Country could not be too overt. Of course, besides the people of the Eighth Prince, the Crown Prince and Prince Dai’s people were all being cautious as well.
At that moment, Yu Hai came in. He first saluted the Eighth Prince and then handed him a letter.
The Eighth Prince set down his chess piece and took the letter from Yu Hai. After reading it, a pleased smile spread across his face.
"Just as expected."
Seeing the Eighth Prince’s smile, Kong Yuan was curious and asked, "Your Highness, what good news has come?"
The Eighth Prince handed the letter to Kong Yuan and said with a smile, "Take a look."
Kong Yuan took the letter, carefully read it, and then also showed a joyful expression.
"Your Highness, as you predicted, Xie Shi as General Zhenxi is indeed in name only."
"What’s amusing is that Duke Zhen and his people are unaware and even take pride in it," the Eighth Prince laughed. "Father’s move is truly brilliant."
"Duke Zhen Country Mansion desires military power, so the Emperor fulfills their wish," Kong Yuan said. "Duke Zhen probably believes that their Xie family has completely controlled the hundred thousand soldiers in the northwest."
"Duke Zhen knows well Father’s ill intentions, yet he willingly falls into the trap," the Eighth Prince said with a mocking smile. "Duke Zhen thinks he is smarter than Father, yet cleverness leads to calculations going astray."
Kong Yuan suddenly remembered something he had forgotten to tell the Eighth Prince, "Your Highness, in the past two days, I have heard some news about Southern Wei."
At the mention of "Southern Wei," the Eighth Prince’s eyes brightened, and an excited expression appeared on his face. "What have you found out?"
Kong Yuan replied, "Some people from Southern Wei are still alive."
"Really?" the Eighth Prince reacted intensely, "Where are they now?"
"It’s said they’ve fled to the Pyu and Funan regions."
"Do you know who exactly they are? After all these years, there’s finally news of Southern Wei."
Kong Yuan shook his head slightly and said, "Unclear."
"Investigate, send people to investigate." Before she passed, his consort mother had entrusted him with something, instructing him to find the people of Southern Wei.
Kong Yuan frowned slightly and said disapprovingly, "Your Highness, I advise you not to investigate Southern Wei further. If the Emperor discovers you are secretly investigating Southern Wei, you will be finished."
"Some things need to be clarified, so it is necessary to find the people of Southern Wei." His mother had told him before she died that there was a secret treasure in Southern Wei, which included the long-lost Jade Seal.